Adulting: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet

by Haley Cavanagh

Embark on a journey to adulting mastery with The Ultimate Cheat Sheet. Unlock the secrets to a well-rounded adult life with clear, concise, and invaluable advice on budgeting, cooking, time management, building meaningful relationships, and so much more! This comprehensive guide is your roadmap to taking charge of your life, offering you the tools and wisdom you need to sculpt the life of your dreams.





The Ultimate Cheat Sheet offers practical advice and user-friendly tips that will empower you to make the most of every aspect of your life, ensuring that you become the self-reliant, confident, and accomplished person you were always meant to be.





Join author, Haley Cavanagh—military veteran, devoted wife and mother, and award winning author—in waving goodbye to uncertainty and hesitation and embracing the fulfilling life you've envisioned. Don't just drift through adulthood—thrive in it. The future is yours to shape, and this book is your indispensable guide on the journey to living the adult life you truly desire.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

176 pages, Paperback

Published March 11, 2024

About the author

Haley Cavanagh is a military veteran, wife, and mother, honored with the League of Utah Writers’ Silver Quill (2020 & 2024) and Bronze Quill (2025) for Shadowed Skies. Haley is an alumna of Columbia College, a musical theater nut, and she loves to dive into any book that crosses her path. Haley resides with her family in the United States and enjoys spending time with her husband and children when she’s not writing. She loves to hear from her readers and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.

Reviews

[Expat Scribe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rated this book 4 stars. To know the reasons for this rating, please visit: https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...
Thanks and may The Force be with you!

—Your friendly Goodreads neighbor 👉 Expat Scribe 👈 the author of:
1] The Invisible Cyber Bully: What it's like to be watched 24/7
2] My Mother, the Good Witch Doctor: How Mom helped princesses with dyslexia
3] The Anti-Bully Manual: How to fight bullies the cyber way

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good advice from your big sister as you are starting out

This book covers a wide range of topics that most people can benefit from.

Depending on your age and life experiences there is advice here that will help almost everyone.

This would be a great gift for graduation or newlyweds as they are just starting out and learning how to cope with life’s challenges.

Most things are covered at a general depth leaving the reader to search and learn more about things they need more in depth study.

I learned a few things and you might also.

[Makele Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for everyone; No matter if you are already an adult or just starting.
This book is exactly what will help anyone on life’s journey.

Use the advice and follow the guidance and direction from budgeting to meal planning to cleaning your house.

I will be purchasing a book for each of my children.

[Jordan W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely worth picking up a copy! She covers everything from parenting and housekeeping hacks, to zombie apocalypse survival planning. I'm really enjoying this book, and look forward to seeing more from the author.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for those graduating high school. I love that this book starts out with talking about money! I wish I would have had a book like this to guide me into adulthood. This is one I will be using in our homeschool for my teenager. I received this book as an arc and all opinions are my own.

[J davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great advice to help with adulthood for everyone I have received an advanced copy of this book but all opinions are my own

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adulting: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet is such a great book! I was very pleasantly surprised with all the detail that went into each of the various categories. This book is not only perfect for a young adult starting out on their own but also for grown adults who could use a few tips and tricks to solve some of their issues.

Full of excellent examples on how to do daily living routines as well as planning for the future. Outside the box ideas for when you are in a pinch, and just overall clever ideas that I am jealous that no one told me about when I was just starting out. I wish I could give this one more than 5 stars because it is deserving of more.

My rating: 5 out of 5

I was provided a copy of this book for the purpose of review as part of a book tour. The thoughts and opinions of this review are one hundred percent mine and not influenced by any author, publisher, or tour group.

[E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

“Adulting: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet” by Haley Cavanagh is a self-help book aimed at those who are just starting to be independent. There are tips about how to set up a budget, how to save money, keeping a living space clean, etc., and templates for things like meal planning, budgeting, and other checklists.

This is a fun and easy-to-read compilation of various tips. I enjoyed reading through and analyzing how I would react to some of the suggestions, particularly if I was just moving out of the family home as an adult. The author’s voice varies between motherly and big-sisterly, and she reminds the reader of various important things to take note of and to establish routines for. I was entertained by some of the things that were included as standard line items in the sample budget (Netflix, cable, Sirius, and yoga classes) since I consider those non-essential, and I think there are other venues to think of when choosing eye exams and eyeglasses such as Costco and similar membership stores. I laughed at the recipe section (and definitely marked some to try out) because it starts with dessert rather than other items. The hacks are arranged in a kind of stream-of consciousness fashion, but are definitely helpful.

I think this is a wonderful resource that should be recommended reading for anyone who is moving out on their own for the first time, and I think it would make that scary first step much easier and less stressful.

A copy of this title was provided for review

[George Dickinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been fortunate to get my hands on an early copy of this book, but let me assure you, my thoughts are entirely my own. Tailored for those on the brink of high school graduation, this book dives straight into the nitty-gritty of financial matters—a great starting point! I can't help but wish I'd had such a comprehensive guide when I was stepping into adulthood. It's certainly finding a place in our homeschool curriculum for my teenager. Disclaimer: I received an ARC, but my opinions remain unbiased.

This book is a gem; it covers a wide array of topics, from parenting tips to household hacks, even delving into survival strategies for a zombie apocalypse. I'm thoroughly enjoying it and eagerly anticipate more works from this author. Trust me, whether you're already navigating adulthood or just embarking on the journey, this is a must-read. It's precisely the roadmap one needs for life's twists and turns.

Take the advice offered, embrace the guidance provided—from budgeting to meal prep to maintaining a tidy home, this book has you covered. I'll definitely be buying a copy for each of my children, knowing it'll be an invaluable resource for their own life journeys.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a quick and easy guide to adulting. It includes tips and ideas for saving money, avoiding credit cards and loans, and budgeting. The read for each item is short and efficient. It doesn’t load you with too much information; it gives you exactly what you need. The only thing that would’ve been useful to mention would be the free sites on taxes for those that meet the income requirements. One can find these free tax sources on the IRS website. In fact, including a list of resources on some these items would help, too. Other things to help with adulting included getting eye glasses, checking the oil on your car, buying a home, making extra money on the side, planning for retirement, how to improve your credit score, and so on. There’s even a little paragraph on how to do laundry. All the suggested cleaning seemed a little much, especially for some that work more than one job. There were even some easy recipes here. And a quick brief on miscellaneous tips like how to sanitize a sponge, how to remove paint from your clothes, and how to get rid of hiccups. Ha, ha! This book was pretty cool. It really is a cheat sheet.

A good reference how-to book for life.

[Novels Alive · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where was Adulting: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet when I needed it as a young adult?

Author Haley Cavanagh delivers a “must-read” book that covers all of the essentials for independent living. Separated into 11 chapters, she provides clear and concise tips on topics ranging from finances to health care.

Her approach takes a conversational tone, focusing on a realistic look at how to move into adulthood and embrace independence. The how-to aspect breaks down complex concepts into digestible nuggets of wisdom. From shopping tips to cheap meal ideas, there’s plenty of solid advice.

Even for those of us who are more seasoned, there are some nuggets of wisdom, particularly in the home remedy chapter. It’s all about survival and making smart choices.

Adulting: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet should be required reading for all young adults who want to build a successful foundation for the future. ~ Amy for Novels Alive

[Elvia Butz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been incredible! So far my 21 and 24 year old have found it very helpful and easy to read and can follow along and understand it. I myself have enjoyed reading it and have taken a lot of great advice from it! Adulting isn’t the easiest part of life, and everyone can use some help here and there, so this book truly helps you ease into it as a young adult in knowing what to expect and how to’s and more! For the ones who have been adulting for quite a while, you can even find some helpful information in this book. I’ve truly enjoyed reading it and recommend it to everyone. I’m getting more copies to gift to my nephews and nieces… I know they’ll appreciate it and find it useful in their lives. Thank you for making this book easy, enjoyable and rewarding to read.

[Andrew Heath · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice guide covering a comprehensive range of topics useful for a Young Adult starting out on their own. Unfortunately I feel some of it is bad advice. The dollar store is NOT the cheapest place to get items. Many dollar store items can be purchased at other stores for less than a dollar. Also, the military will not necessarily pay for your education although they can help significantly. One of the most appalling things I've witnessed is a young adult shirking their responsibility, suddenly claiming to be a conscienous objector when activated and asked to deploy, because they only joined for an education.

I received an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) from the publisher however the opinions are my own

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been an adult for almost two decades, but there are still times when I just feel like I'm at a loss. This book would've been an invaluable resource when I first became an adult, and would've helped me feel a little more confident stepping out into the world. There's a wide range of topics covered, each with great advice in it. The book is easy to read and navigate, so if you're only concerned with one or two topics, you can skip to them easily. That said, I actually found some of the advice in this really helpful. Some things I should know by now, but still struggle with occasionally. With all the information flying around the internet these days, it's nice to have a clear, concise guide, that isn't overwhelming. Highly recommend, especially for those just stepping into adulthood!

[Samantha Turley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how the world has so many more things that young adults need to know than they could ever dream. I found this to be a great guide that really touches on a little of everything.

The book is a comprehensive resource that will prepare its readers for a wide range of real-world scenarios, with sections on so many things that you would never even think to "teach" them.

The layout and structure of the book are commendable. It is divided into easily digestible sections, and the detailed explanations behind each skill set it apart from mere instructions.

If you are looking for some pointers that you may have missed or haven't thought about, or even if you are a parent wanting to ensure your child is prepared, you can't go wrong with this guide.

[Jaclyn Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great little treasure for young adults, especially in today's world of always looking for life hacks! It'd be a perfect graduation/off to college gift, missionary gift, teenage birthday gift, or to give to newly weds! It does seem like it's audience is young adult women as opposed to men, so keep that in mind. I'm not a "new" adult but I enjoyed this read and got a lot of great tips and hacks. I'd definitely recommend. I recieved an advanced reading copy of Adulting: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet but the opinions in this review are my own.

[Holly Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Adulting Cheat Sheet offers some useful tips for managing everyday life — from budgeting and meal planning to basic home maintenance. It’s a good starting point for anyone just moving out or learning to handle responsibilities on their own. However, some of the advice feels quite basic and could go deeper in certain areas, like financial planning or career development. Overall, it’s a handy guide for beginners, but those already somewhat comfortable with “adulting” might find it a bit too simple.

[Brandy Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Don't let anyone make you cruel."

I wish that this charming self-help book had existed when I began my journey to adulthood. It would have saved me so much time, money, and heartache. The book is divided into eleven short, breezy chapters: Finances, Cleaning, Cooking, Health Care, Everyday Hacks, Home Remedies, Beauty Treatments, Traveling, Life Advice, Parenting, and Survival. Perfect gift for high school graduates.

[C. Gonzales · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for high school kids branching out either in college or into the work force. It really highlights so many of the important aspects of self-sufficiency, many of which are often overlooked.

I really liked the way that Haley Cavanagh dumbed this down and allowed it to be easily digested by younger adults as well as connecting them to the why the points matter.

A great tool for young adults!

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great start in considering necessary (adulting) topics. I felt like it was a good starting conversation between a big sister to a younger sibling (before they start to research things for themselves).

Definitely recommend taking most of these things with a grain of salt. I had plenty of questions in each topic. Not expert advice in any of these topics by any means.

[Gina Stamper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a helpful guide for high school graduates transitioning into the next phase of their lives.

It offers an easy to follow approach to early adulthood, covering critical topics that they may not even know they need to know about.

It includes practical exercises and actionable steps.

[Mitzi Bigelow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a gem. It’s fun to read and there are so many great life hacks to make situations easier, better, and solvable. I loved it. I’m going to keep using “Adulting: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet!”

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would have been a nice self-help or focus when I first started adulthood. Lots of good information behind this cover.

[Colby Christensen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some good tips and things to think about! I felt smart that I already knew about most of them.